On Sunday, the 70-Test five-eighth scored an alert quick tap try, made a strong ball-and-all tackle on opposite Wharenui Hawera and tried his best in dire conditions.

As always there was a magic moment. He went into a full 7m slide into a puddle to catch one ball, deftly laid it back infield before he crossed the sideline, retrieved it and then flicked a pass to get City moving downfield.